
GEN. COWDIN 



AND THE 



FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT 



OP 



VOLUNTEERS. 



^♦» 



BOSTON: 
J. E. HARWELL AND COMPANY, PlilNTERS, 

37 COMOKISS STSIBT. 

1864. 



-^ 



Xl- 



^ 




\ V 



V- 



^ 



=%> \j 



GEN. COWDIN 






h •• 



AND THE 



PIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT 



OF 



VOLUNTEERS. 






-+♦4- 



BOSTON: 
J. E. FARWELL AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, 



37 Congress Street. 

1864. 



E^is 



r" 



' <,' 



ici-. as. 



PREFACE. 



At the urgent and repeated solicitations of many 
friends, I have finally consented to give to the public 
a few statements concerning the treatment which I 
have received from a few high official dignitaries, rep- 
resenting the State of Massachusetts. I do not wish 
to be egotistical or extravagant in my expressions, but 
to state the facts simply as they are, leaving the public 
to decide whether one who has sacrificed his business, 
the comforts and pleasures of home, and friends, for 
the defence of his country, has deserved such unkind 
and ungenerous usage. 

R. C. 
Boston, October, 1864. 



STATEMENT. 



Immediately after the fall of Sumter, when the Capital 
seemed in imminent danger, I reported myself to his Excel- 
lency Governor Andrew, tendering him the services of myself 
and command, and expressing my willingness to go at the 
shortest possible notice. A number of other Colonels appeared 
for the same purpose, and after the matter had been thor- 
oughly discussed, the Governor ordered Colonel Jones, of the 
Sixth Regiment, to report himself the next day, which he did 
with about four hundred men, some three hundred short of the 
requisite number for a full Regiment (as the regulations then 
provided). I then offered to the Governor one of my com- 
panies, under the command of Captain W. S. Sampson, which 
was accepted. This, with others that had previously been 
ordered, filled up the Regiment to its full quota, and it left for 
the seat of Government, April 17, 1861. I called at the State 
House daily, urging my claims, but his Excellency informed 
me that he must send out the Regiments first that could best 
be spared, and in a short time sent the following : Third, 
Colonel Wardrop; Fourth, Colonel Packard; Fifth, Colonel 
Lawrence, and the Eighth, Colonel Monroe. Finally, on the 
27th of April, I received an order from Adjutant-General 
Schouler for my Regiment to be in readiness to march, and 
to report myself, in person, at the State House, and to select 
from the companies offered me those which I desired to fill up 



my Regiment to its full quota. I immediately left my business 
and devoted my whole time to preparing it for the service. 
The City of Boston, with the generosity which has always 
characterized her, appropriated $200,000 towards fitting out 
the Boston troops, and furnished seven of my companies°with 
uniforms, the Roxbury and Chelsea companies being furnished 
by their respective cities. I then made applications at the State 
House for arms and equipments for my men, but was put off 
from day to day until about the 8th of May, when orders were 
received from the War Department calling for 75,000 troops 
who would volunteer for three years or the war. Immediately 
on the receipt of this order the ten companies under my com- 
mand voted unanimously to offer themselves to the Government, 
and at eleven o'clock of the same day my officers did likewise,' 
and requested me to report to the Governor and tender him the 
services of myself and command, to be offered to the United 
States. In accordance with the wish of my officers I went to 
the State House, but the Governor seemed to assume an air 
of indifference to my offer. I then requested permission to 
proceed to Washington and offer my services to the Govern- 
ment, to which he gave his consent, and directed Lieutenant- 
Colonel Sargent, one of his aids, to write me a leave of absence 
for five days. I left that afternoon for Washington, accom- 
panied by my Major and Adjutant, and called upon General 
Scott, as General-in-Chief of the Army. He expressed a 
strong desire that my Regiment should be ordered, but referred 
me to the Hon. Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War. I waited 
upon him, and he informed me that the Government had or- 
dered from each State a certain number of troops, but had left 
it with the different Governors which Regiments should be sent. 
I telegraphed to Governor Andrew the result of my interview 
with General Scott and Secretary Cameron, but received no 
reply. I then took the cars for home, and on my arrival called 
at his house, but on learning that he was at the Howard Athe- 
naeum I immediately went there, and at the close of the scene 



reported myself to him in person. I met with a cool reception 
from him, who, as I perceived by his countenance, did not like 
to be disturbed. I could have informed him that it was the 
duty of every officer to report himself to his superior imme- 
diately on his return to duty, but I judged from his treatment 
of me that he was entirely ignorant of that fact. I was kept in 
suspense until the 2 2d of May, when he appointed me Colonel 
of my own Eegiment, and, as I have since learned, much 
against his will, and on the 25th of the same month we were 
mustered into the United States service. I then applied to the 
Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General for arms and equip- 
ments for a full Regiment, as I was very desirous that Massa- 
chusetts should furnish the first three-years Regiment. On the 
29th I was notified that the buildings at Fresh Pond, Cam- 
bridge, had been procured for me as barracks. On the first of 
June we marched out and took possession of our new quarters. 
My Regiment was temporarily furnished with old muskets of 
various patterns, which were hardly fit to drill with, some of 
them being very much out of repair. I soon found the location 
was an unhealthy one, and immediately applied for a change 
of quarters, which were provided me on the 13th of June, at 
North Cambridge. 

On or about the 12th of June I received notice from Assist- 
ant Quartermaster-General Stone, to send my companies to 
the Arsenal, and he would furnish them with Springfield rifle 
muskets in the place of the ones they then had. I did so, and 
they were provided with second-hand Springfield muskets, and 
with cartridge-boxes, belts, and knapsacks, which were com- 
posed of the poorest material. The knapsacks were so poor 
that I ordered a board of survey, and they were unanimously 
condemned and considered unfit for the service, a report of 
which I sent to the Quartermaster-General, but no attention 
was paid to it. On the 14th of June I received orders from 
the War Department to be in readiness to march the next after- 
noon. I then called at the State House to procure a set of 



8 



Colors, which had been promised me from time to time, and to 
which I was entitled, but was put off as before with the assur- 
ance that everything should be ready for me when I started, 
but they were never furnished me, and the Kegiment left with- 
out them. On Saturday, the 15th, my wagons, horses, and 
camp equipage were transferred to the cars, and at half-past 
four o'clock we broke camp and started for Boston. Just 
before leaving, a letter, from one of his Excellency's Council, 
was handed me, of which the following is a copy : — 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 

Executive Department, Council Chamber, 

Col. Eobekt Cowdin : _ ^''''"' •^"'^^ '^' ^^^'^ 

Dear Sir: I hear very bad reports about your Eegiment,' and it 
gives me great trouble, as an old friend of yours. I understand that 
you are very much wanting in order, discipline, and dignity, and that 
the men and officers pay but little attention to rules and orders, and 
the Eegiment is more like a mob than a camp, and unless you are more 
rigid and strict in enforcing military discipline and order, you will 
make a failure. I hope and trust that you will change your course, or 
you will, 1 tear, disgrace your name and State. 

Yours truly, 

Oakes Ames. 

As I was blamed considerably at the time for givin.. my men 
so long a march, I will in justice to myself say, tlJl halted 
tw,ce on the route from Cambridge to the Common, and had 
them wear their overcoats for the reasons that the knapsacks 
were so narrow and small that the coats could not be properly 
packed, and that some of the uniforms, though worn only 
about s,x weeks, were so ragged that they were not decent 
to march through the streets in. On my arrival at the 
depot I was met by a joint Committee of the City Council 
headed by his Honor Mayor Wightman, who pre'sented me 
wth a beautiful national color, wl,ich, together with the one 
used by the old First Regiment, was all that I had when I 



left the city. After talcing leave of the many friends who 
had gathered at the depot to witness our departure, I stepped 
upon the platform, not without some emotion, and turned my 
back upon dear old Boston. As I entered the cars I found the 
Assistant Quartermaster- General of Massachusetts, who was 
exercising considerable authority, and on questioning him as to 
the cause of it, was told he had been sent there by Gov. An- 
drew to superintend the Regiment until it should be turned over 
to the proper authorities in Jersey City. I informed him that 
I was Colonel of that Regiment, and that Gov. Andrew had 
nothing to do with me or my command. On arriving at Jersey 
City, I was met by a large assemblage of citizens, many of them 
former residents of Massachusetts, headed by Mr. Warren, who 
gave us a hearty welcome as the first three years' Regiment, and 
informed me that a collation had been prepared and was in 
waiting for us, which was readily and gratefully partaken of. 
I arrived in Baltimore on the afternoon of the 17th, and was 
received by a detachment of NIms' Battery, who escorted us 
through the identical streets that the 6th Regiment marched 
through and were assaulted on the 19th of April previous. Be- 
fore marching through the city, I distributed ten rounds of ball 
cartridges to my men, loaded and capped my pieces, and was 
prepared for any assault that might be made upon us, and took 
up the line of march through the city. The streets through 
which we passed were thronged with people, whose countenances 
indicated the hatred they felt towards Massachusetts soldiers ; 
but no insults were offered, and we marched through the city 
unmolested. I arrived in Washlns^ton at 6 o'clock of the same 
afternoon, and repoited myself to Gen. Mansfield, who had 
charge of the troops then arriving, and on the 19th was ordered 
to Georgetown, near Chain Bridge. Soon after arriving in 
camp, an order was issued by Gen. Mansfield, of which the 
following is a copy : — 



10 



CIECULAR. 
Headquarters, Department of Washington, 

this Depa,.Je„t N itC ^ „'. ^^ T"' °' '™°f^ ^'™»« - 
troops on the march rt/'™ ''"' """^-l '» acoompLy 

By order of 

BEIG-GEJ^. MANSFIELD. 
In a few days after recelvino- this orrTpr T 

mission A n '^"'^°' ^^ ^"7 Person there without per- 

mission. A correspondent of the Tm.^.n c , ^ 

received a letter from Hon Chsrl^ « ""^ •^™''' ^ 

eal. a. hi. office i„ ^Zr^^rJlTil'^'f''^ "^ '" 
there was presented b, hi.^ith I ttte tCL?rT' 
of wliicli tlie following is a copy : _ ^'"^''*"'' 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
Co.. E„B.a. Cow^xK^T"" ^''^'"■"""''' ^''^'<'"' -^"^ 2r, 1861. 

witr^r t^„;HL::t::x-;r:c ir r ^^ ''-" 

commission as Colonel of the Fir,t luV v ^' '" "'''«■' 7°™ 

timony is so unanimous and oIlnTanT 7 t f ^^■""'- ^"^ *- 
»eut has suffered every day for TaL j °™"^''""'« 'l"^' *= Eegi- 
^ am compelled to this '^^^^^^^Zl^^' ^^ 

Yours very truly, 

J. A. ANDREW. 



11 

I inquired of Mr. Sumner what it all meant, and he informed 
me that the Governor was very much dissatisfied with me, and 
had written to him and Senator Wilson, asking them to urge my 
resignation. I told him I was then an officer in the United 
States service, and that if the Governor, or any one else, had 
any charge to prefer against me to present them to proper au- 
thorities, and I would willingly be tried by a court-martial and 
abide the result without a murmur. I then returned to camp, 
and wrote to Gov. Andrew, in substance, what I had stated to 
Mr. Sumner, and that I should not resign. 

Not satisfied with this result, I was honored, in the course of 
a few days, with a visit from His Excellency, who informed me 
that he had come to inspect my horses, wagons, and other camp 
equipage, of which there had been so much complaint. I showed 
them to him, but he appeared perfectly indifferent to all that I 
said. I invited him to dine with me, which he did. I then 
invited him to stay and witness my drill, but he very abruptly 
declined. I was informed, and from the best authority, that, 
during his visit in Washington, he called upon the President 
and urged my removal, but was told by him (the President) 
that he could not remove me before having the advice of Gen. 
Scott and Secretary Cameron. He then called upon Gen. Scott 
and asked, as a personal favor, that he would recommend to the 
President my removal. He was asked for what reason, but 
being unable to give any satisfactory one, was told by the Gen- 
eral that his request could not be complied with. The next 
morning he was to start for Boston, but before leaving he called 
upon Senator Sumner, who had not risen. He was shown to 
his chamber, when he again requested him to call upon me and 
urge my immediate resignation. Consequently I was, in the 
course of a few days, honored by a visit from Hon. Mr. Sum- 
ner, Hon. John B. Alley, and Dr. James W. Stone, since 
deceased. I conducted them around my camp, entertaining 
them as best I could, when Senator Sumner then broached 
the subject and again urged me to resign, intimating that 



12 

I might be removed. I replied, as on a previous occasion, 
adding that I had spent too much time and money for the mi- 
htia of Massachusetts to be driven out in such a disgraceful 
manner. Mr. Alley then made a few remarks relative" to the 
subject, as did also Dr. Stone, but I assured them that I was 
more than ever determined not to resign. And, furthermore, in- 
formed them that I had had trouble enough from the interference 
of outsiders, and if any one called again for the same purpose, 
they should see the inside of my guard-house. 

About this time my Regiment was inspected by Gen. Tyler 
commanding the Division, and he pronounced the men in ^ood 
condition, and the Regiment has stood number one at every 
inspection since. In a few days after we were ordered to the 
front, and the conduct of the First Massachusetts Regiment on 
that occasion is a matter of history. One brave man, however 
upon whose banner was inscribed ' « three or five years, or durinc^ 
the war," melted like Snow before a hot fire. 

On the 18th of August I was Brigaded under Gen. Hooker, 
at Bladensburg, and on the 14th of Octobor was assigned by 
him to the command of the First Brigade. On the 23d of the 
same month he gave me a recommendation for Brioadier Gen- 
eral, of which the following is a copy : — ° 

Headquarters, Hooker's Division, 

Camp Union, Oct. 23, 1861. 
Brig. -Gen. S. Williams, 

Adjutant- General, Army of the Potomac. 

General: After giving the subject the deliberation it requires I 

respectfully name Col Eobert Cowdin. 1st Eegiment MassachuseUs 

Volunteers, for promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General, and request 

that he may be assigned to the command of the Eirst Bri^^ade of mv 

vZT% f,^ ^«,f* P--^* ----S that office. I recommend Col 
Cowdin for the following reasons : — * 

He is the senior officer of the Brigade. 

He displayed great courage while in command of his Ee^Im.nf • 
the skirmish at Bull Eun, on the 18th of July, 1861. ^ ' '" 



13 

He was the first Colonel in the United States to tender a Eegiraent 
for three years, already armed and equipped for the field, to the Gov- 
ernment, at the hour of its greatest peril, and his promotion will place 
Lieut.-Col. D, Gr. Wells, an ofl&cer of uncommon merit, in command of 
his Regiment. Very respectfully, 

Your obt. servant, 

JOSEPH HOOKER, 
Brigadier- General, commanding Division. 
"Official Copy," 
Wm. H. Lavtrence, Aid-de-Camp. 

I was told by General Hooker that General McClellan had 
informed him that any one he should recommend for Brigadier- 
General should be appointed, and that I might expect mine' in 
the course of ten days. It so happened that Gov. Andrew 
in a few days after made it convenient lo be in Washington ; 
and there was a prevalent rumor in camp at that time that he 
was there to oppose my nomination, but whether or not I am 
unable to say, but will leave the public to decide as the appoint- 
ment was not made at that time, and I did not receive it for more 
than eleven months after. About this time Senator Wilson, in 
command of the 22d Regiment at Halls Hill, Va., one Sunday- 
afternoon, called on one of his Captains, and, in course of con- 
versation, my recommendation by General Hooker was dis- 
cussed, when Senator Wilson said : *' Col. Cowdin will never 
be confirmed by the Senate." 

On hearing of my recommendation by Gen. Hooker, the 
Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, in both branches of 
which I had been a member, very kindly forwarded a petition 
from their respective Boards to the President, urging my appoint- 
ment. A short time after this three more petitions were gotten 
up, one by the Honorable Senate and House of Eepresen- 
tatives, one from the leading men of Boston, and one from the 
War Committee ; these petitions were all sent to a Massa- 
chusetts Senator to be presented to the President, but in my 
heart I firmly believe that he (the President) never saw them. 



14 

It is presumed that they were either destroyed or kept in abey- 
ance. On the 8th of January, Mayor Opdyke of New York 
wrote the following letter in my behalf : — 

Mayor's Office, New York, January 8, 1862. 

Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States : — 

Sir : The friends of Colonel Eobert Cowdin of the First Massachu- 
setts Eegiment, now acting Brigadier-General of Hooker's Division, are 
very desirous that he should receive the appointment of Brigadier-Gren- 
eral of Volunteers. He is so highly recommended by General Hooker 
upon purely military grounds, and by the Mayor and City Council of 
Boston, who have long known him intimately, and with whom he has 
served in both branches, that there can be no question as to bis charac- 
ter or capacity. Added to this testimony is the practical commentary 
furnished by the high character for discipline and eflSciency attained 
by Colonel Cowdin's Eegiment, and which it is understood characterizes 
the entire Brigade of which Colonel Cowdin is now in command. The 
appointment of Colonel Cowdin to a Brigadier-Generalship would seem 
to be from public consideration one of the best that could be made. 
This is a consideration which at this time cannot fail to prove potent 
with Your Excellency. I take pleasure in requesting your special at- 
tention to General Hooker's letter, of which a printed copy is appended. 
The appointment of Colonel Cowdin will be to me personally a source of 
high gratification. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEOEGE OPDYKE. 

This letter was given to Senator Sumner, with the request 
that he should immediately present it to the President in person, 
which he agreed to do ; but it was kept back by him, from his 
own acknowledgment, for more than eight months ; the reason 
is best known to himself; but it is presumed, however, that 
Senator Wilson advised him not to present it, and informed him, 
as he had two of my personal friends, (he taking them to be 
otherwise,) that my case was closed, and that he had closed it 
for me. During the winter. Senator Wilson was in Boston, 
and the subject of ray promotion was discussed in the liepublican 



15 

Headquarters, when he made a public declaration, in the pres- 
ence of several gentlemen, that I could not be confirmed by 
the Senate even if I was appointed. I continued in command 
of the Brigade until the 19th of February, when I was relieved, 
by Brig. -Gen. Henry M. Naglee, an officer of distinguished 
ability. He has since, as I am informed, been mustered out 
of the service for his political opinions. On or about the 20th 
of September, Hon. John P. Hale, Senator from New Hamp- 
shire, seeing the injustice that had been done me, laid my case 
before the President, and requested him to appoint me. The 
President told him that no more appointments could be made, 
except for distinguished conduct in the field. Mr. Hale then 
related the engagements I had been in, and particularly men- 
tioned that of Williamsburg ; and in about four days from that 
time I received my appointment, of which the following is a 

copy : — 

War Department, Washington, Sept. 26, 1862. 

Sir : You are hereby informed that the President of the United 
States has appointed you, for distinguished conduct at the battle of 
Williamsburg, Brigadier-General of Volunteers in the service of the 
TJnited States, to rank as such from the twenty-sixth day of Septem- 
ber, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two. Should the Senate, 
at their next session, advise and consent thereto, you will he commis- 
sioned accordingly. 

Immediately on receipt hereof please to communicate to this Depart- 
ment, through the Adjutant-General of the Army, your acceptance or 
non-acceptance, and with your letter of acceptance return the oath 
herewith enclosed, properly filled up, subscribed and attested, and re- 
port your age, birthplace, and the State of which you were a permanent 
resident. 

You will report for duty to the General-in-Chief, U. S. A., in person 

for orders. 

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. 

Brigadier-General Egbert Cowdin, U. S. Volunteers. 

On the 30th of September I was sworn into office as Briga- 
dier-General of Volunteers, and immediately assigned to the 2d 



16 

Brigade, Abercrombie'a Division, composed entirely of new 
troops, which I continued to drill and discipline until the 30th of 
March, when I was relieved of my command by the following 
order : — 

Headquarters, Ahercromhie's Division, 

Arlington House, Va., March 30, 1863. 
General Order No. 13. 

1. Brigadier-General Robert Cowdin ia hereby relieved from the 
command of the 2d Brigade of this Division. Col. Burr Porter, 40th 
Mass. Vols., will assume command. 

2. In parting with Brigadier-General Cowdin the General command- 
ing the Division desires to compliment him on the eflBciency to which 
the troops under his command have arrived. He feels assured that 
soldiers so well managed in camp would have been equally well led in 
the field, where he regrets that he must be deprived of General Cow- 
din's valuable services. 

By order of Brig.-Gen. Abercrombib. 

J. A. SLIPPER, A. A. G. 
Official. 
C. H. Lawrence. A. A. G. 

m 

As the time for confirmation drew near, I had occasion to 
visit Washington on business for my Brigade, when I met a 
distinguished Senator, and I made inquiries of him concerning 
my case. He informed me that there was not the least doubt 
as to my confirmation, and that no name stood better before the 
Senate than mine. Another Senator also Informed me that my 
name, with others, had been sent forward and canvassed, and 
not a single objection brought against It ; and added, that I should 
receive every vote with possibly the exception of the two 
Massachusetts Senators. It appears, however, that there were 
a large number of politicians to be confirmed, many of whom 
had not seen' a day of real service ; therefore fishtlnff men, who 
had seen nearly two years hard service, were set aside to make 
place for them. 

The day after I was relieved of my command I received the 



17 

following letters from my superior officers, Generals Heintzel- 
man and Abercrombie : — 

Headquarters, Department of Washington, 

Washington, March 30, 1863. 

BpaGADIER-GENERAL EOBERT COWDIN : 

General : I am happy to be able to say that after serving some 
time under my command both on the Peninsula and in the defences 
here commanding a Brigade, your conduct has merited my warm ap- 
probation. 

Hoping to meet you again in service under more favorable circum- 
stances, 

I remain, yours truly, 

S. P. HEINTZELMAN, Major- General 

Jleadguarters Arlington, April 1, 1863. 
My dear General : In parting with you, I take this occasion to 
express my deep regret that so valuable an officer should be lost to this 
command, and at a time, too, when his services might prove of much 
importance, and aid very materially in the defence of the city against 
the threatened raid by the Piebels along the line of our defences. As 
evidence of your efficiency, I am satisfied there is not a Brigade under 
my command better calculated to do good services by its discipline and 
instruction than your own. I trust you may be restored to your com- 
mand at an early day. 

Your obedient servant, 

J. J. ABEECEOMBIE, Brig.- Gen. 
Brig.-Gen. E. Cowdin, Washington, D. C. 

On my returning home as a citizen, the people began to inquire 
the cause of it, when one of the senators called on several of 
the daily papers in this city, as I have since learned, and dic- 
tated to them what answer to give the people. One of the num- 
ber was very particular to give as a reason that there were two 
more nominations from Massachusetts than she was entitled to, 
and they supposed the Senate selected for promotion those that 
M-ere considered the best qualified, (or words to that effect,) 
2 



18 

carefully concealing the fact that two of the candidates who 
were on the Massachusetts list did not represent Massachusetts. 
One went out in command of a New York Regiment, and the 
other, as I am informed, was an engineer from Pennsylvania, 
and has since been discharged. 

Some time after my return home, I called on Senator Sumner, 
and Inquired of him why I had been thus treated ; what quali- 
fications, if any, I was lacking, which should cause them to pro- 
mote junior officers over me ? But he did not give me any 
reason, but in substance intimated that we must submit to higher 
authority whether we liked it or not. Nearly every question 
I put to him was answered evasively, and my previous opinion, 
that he had used his best eflforts to defeat me, were then con- 
firmed. About the 21st of August I received an appointment 
as Paymaster of Volunteers, at the instigation of Senator 
Wilson, which I respectfully declined, not feeling quite willing 
to step from the rank of Brigadier-General to that of Major. 
Since that time I have had several Interviews with Mr. Wilson, 
and he Informs me that he has never opposed me directly or 
indirectly, evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. If such 
be the case, why am I out of the service? Can either of these 
gentlemen answer? 

During a recent visit to Washington, I called upon the Presi- 
dent, and presented him with my letters of recommendation. He 
informed me that I needed no recommendation, that my con- 
duct In the field was a sufficient guarantee of my fitness for the 
office of Brigadier-General, but that there were no vacancies at 
that time. He then indorsed my papers and referred me to 
Secretary Stanton, who informed me that no man stood better 
in the army than I did ; he said that there were no vacancies at 
that time. It cannot but be plain to the public that my not 
being confirmed by the Senate was the work of the Massachu- 
setts Senators, as one of them informed me that it was by his 
own jpcrsonal exertions that a Massachusetts General had been 
confirmed. That I have been treated with neglect and con- 



19 

tempt by them from the beginning is plainly visible, let them 
say what they will to the contrary. 

And I am not the only officer who has been thus shamefully 
treated, hundreds of others have been served in like manner. 
Men who have fought bravely in defence of their country, for 
the advance of its interests and the maintenance of its laws, 
have been withheld from promotion, simply because they dif- 
fered in political opinion, or were not in favor with those high 
in power ; while others, who have not a thought or care for the 
country, whether it be lost or saved, are rapidly advanced far 
beyond their knowledge and ability. And I think I may safely 
assert that many a "Major-General's" strap has been worn, 
when, if the wearer were thoroughly and fairly examined, could 
not boast a Captain's commission ; and it is this inefficiency, 
together with the intemperance of many of our Generals, that 
has been the sole cause of so many disgraceful defeats ; and 
until a change is made, and men who are competent placed in 
command, we cannot and must not expect anything diffisrent. 

In conclusion, I would say, that I shall ever be ready and 
willing to respond to the call of my country when I can be 
restored to my rightful position, one that I feel I have fairly 
earned by many a hard-fought battle and by the recommen- 
dations of all my superior officers. And I feel that at this time, 
when the country needs and demands the services of every man, 
we should lay aside all party feeling and unite in one brother- 
hood in supporting the Union, and in defending that glorious 
Constitution so dearly purchased by the blood of our fathers, 
and which, descending to us as our birthright, claims our undi- 
vided and heai'ty support. 

Very respectfully, 

ROBERT COWDIN, 
Late Brigadier- General, U. S. A. 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



IMIIIIIIllliiii ' 




013 703 379 3 



